Travel

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. reported a moderation in profitability for the third quarter as higher employee-related provisions linked to new labour codes weighed on margins. While the travel services major continued to benefit from steady demand across leisure and corporate travel segments, increased compliance costs and one-time provisioning impacted its bottom line. Management indicated that the earnings dip reflects regulatory adjustments rather than a slowdown in business momentum.

Germany is intensifying its tourism outreach to India, targeting one million overnight stays by Indian travelers by 2026. The initiative reflects growing travel appetite among Indian tourists and Germany’s strategy to diversify its inbound tourism base beyond traditional markets. With rising disposable incomes, improved air connectivity and a strong interest in cultural, business and leisure travel, India has emerged as a priority market.

In a significant step toward deepening consumer engagement in the travel and payments ecosystem, SBI Card and IndiGo have launched two co-branded credit cards: IndiGo SBI Card and IndiGo SBI Card ELITE. Integrated with IndiGo’s BluChip loyalty programme, these cards allow users to earn reward points across flight bookings, hotels, travel services, and everyday purchases. The standard card comes with an annual fee of Rs. 1,499, while the ELITE variant is priced at Rs. 4,999, offering superior privileges including international lounge access, milestone bonuses, and enhanced reward rates.

Delhi International Airport Ltd. has introduced a premium bus service linking Indira Gandhi International Airport with Noida and Greater Noida, offering travelers a more comfortable and cost-effective alternative to private cabs and app-based taxis. The service, featuring luxury coaches equipped with modern amenities, is designed to improve regional connectivity while catering to the growing number of passengers traveling from the National Capital Region (NCR) to the airport.

Shares of Travel Food Services made a robust debut on the stock exchanges, closing nearly 17% above their issue price. The enthusiasm highlights investor confidence in India’s expanding travel and hospitality segments, particularly at a time when discretionary spending is rebounding. Backed by a solid footprint in airports, railway stations, and highways, the company’s growth story appears well-positioned to capitalize on rising passenger traffic and evolving consumption patterns.

In a strategic move underscoring confidence in India’s consumer discretionary segment, homegrown private equity firm Multiples Alternate Asset Management is poised to acquire up to a 25% stake in VIP Industries, the country’s leading luggage manufacturer. This investment, estimated to be worth around Rs. 1,900 crore, marks one of the largest private equity transactions in the domestic lifestyle goods sector in recent years.

Oyo and Yatra have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at servicing the expanding corporate travel market in India. By combining Yatra’s extensive distribution network and Oyo’s B2B-tailored accommodation offerings, the collaboration will deliver bespoke stay and travel packages to enterprises of all sizes. This synergy is timely, considering reports that India’s corporate travel sector—valued at roughly $10.6 billion—could double by 2029–30.

Travel Food Services (TFS), a key player in India's travel-focused food and beverage (F&B) sector, is preparing to launch its Rs. 2,000-crore initial public offering (IPO) from July 7 to July 9, 2025. The issue, priced between Rs. 1,045 and Rs. 1,100 per share, is entirely an offer-for-sale (OFS) by the promoter entity, Kapur Family Trust, signaling a strategic shift without raising new capital. TFS, backed by global travel retail leader SSP Group, operates nearly 400 outlets across 14 Indian and 3 Malaysian airports.